Oh What A Week We're Having

Wow, it's been an eventful holiday season for us.

We spent Christmas in NoVA with my (Jim's) parents in Haymarket. We got there on Saturday evening and spent the next few days there, returning home on the 26th. As Abbie has pointed out, we see my dad more now than when we lived in NoVA. Go figure.

We spent Sunday the 24th with Katie and Bruce at their townhouse. It was so cute watching how Emily plays to the crowd and even with other babies around, she's still the center of attention. Cooper was crawling all over everything since it was all new to him. Sullivan simply did his cute thing without too much fuss (wish it was that way at home). We stayed for the first quarter of the Giants-Saints game where the Giants were handing it to the Saints. We think we were the good luck charm in that household of Giants fans because once we left, the Giants imploded upon themselves yet again. What happens this weekend when they play the Skins? Are we the Giants' good luck charm or the Skins? And what about Abbie's new favorite team, the Panthers? How are they going to do? She only likes them because Jake Delhomme makes funny commercials for Sprint down here.

Abbie got sick that night. Violently sick, I would say. She was vomiting like her life depended on it. And the runs she had, whoa, Nelly. Poor thing. It was an awful night for her. We never figured out what it was, either...although it rears its head later.

Gene and Kathy had a blast with the boys. Kathy hooked us up big time with wanting to hold Bear all the time. He may be young, but he's far from little...so always holding him gets tiring at his hefty 20lbs (and he's only seven months old...the little chunky butt). She just soaked his heftiness in and held him and hugged him and squeezed him all over. Cooper played a lot with Dad, and demonstrated to Grandpa how he could walk up and down stairs holding your hand.

Christmas dinner on the 25th was at Dad's house with the grandparents and John, Kat & little Lauren. Chris and Wanda came over also since they were in town for Wanda's doctor's appointments. It was very nice to have both sets of grandparents in one place, if even for one night. Chris did assimilate very well with my dysfunctional family...they even sucked him into the post-dinner booze and politics at the table whilst the women-folk went off and did what they do.

Cooper said "Papi" for the first time. Papi is French for grandfather and that's what we call Chris D'Addario. What? Not like we can call every grandfather "grandpa"...do you have any idea how many grandpa's these kids would have? Sheesh. (For the curious, that would be four...and yes, they have four grandmothers, too).

Our drive on the 26th took us over five hours. Usually only takes us 4 hours, but we decided to avoid the awful traffic in NoVA to get to I-95, so we took it out towards Culpeper and down Rte 3. It was actually a pleasant drive, and we had fun jamming out to Cooper and Sully's new Backyardigan DVD's. Yes, yes, Abbie and I like the music just as much as the boys. You would too if you sat down and watched the shows a few times. Very catchy tunes, quite frankly. "Boinga, boinga".

The next day, after I finished my half day at work, I came home not feeling very good. I had the chills and my stomach wasn't feeling very good. That night, I went to bed while Abbie stayed up to work on a Deltek project she's had on tap for some time. About an hour after I went to bed, I jumped up and ran to the bathroom to projectile vomit into the commode. The next day, I spent most of the day resting, with no appetite, and managed to steal a needed 3 hour nap in late afternoon. After going to bed for the night, I found myself jumping up and running to the bathroom yet again so that I could projectile vomit. It wasn't until Saturday that I finally regained my appetite. Very disconcerting to not want to eat anything for three days. Guess I caught what Abbie had.

And then yesterday, Cooper started giving signs that he was getting sick. Today, he got it bad. Throwing up everywhere. Barely eating anything. And the diahrrea...DAD TIP: don't take your child out of the house if there's the potential for the runs and those runs have a distinct potential for leaking out of the diaper. If you do, bring at least three pairs of pants, and an entire package of baby wipes. Oooh, it was a mess.

BIG NEWS ALERT! Abbie has completed her tenure with Deltek. That project she was working on was her last, and she got it completed after long nights of working. I'm going to leave it to Abbie to detail this period of transition of her's for y'all. Needless to say, for me, it's nice to have her not have to worry about Deltek, although, the extra income will be missed. Abbie is going to take up the banner for our FreedomRocks business and has been preparing for her kick off point. $1M in 2 years is our goal and we know we can do it. Deltek chapter...closed.

BIG NEWS ALERT! I've officially stopped being a real estate agent in Virginia. I got notice today from my old broker, Help-U-Sell Patriot Realty, that my subscription with the MLS was terminated and that my license had been sent back to the Commonwealth of VA. It was a bit sad, but the only thing I truly liked about real estate (other than the potential for big bucks) was the flexibility in scheduling. Virginia real estate salesperson chapter...closed.

Cooper had his birthday on Friday the 29th. Finally two years old. He got a little activity table with which to play at. He took to it immediately, and has demonstrated that he definitely knows its his and what to do with it. We'll post pics of this past week soon.

Our anniversary is tomorrow, and it will be yet another quiet evening at home thanks to the chillins. I look forward to the day that we can start attending New Year's Eve like regular people...Raleigh got one of those First Night celebrations that look like fun for the whole family. Of course, we're going to plan some kewl shindigs on New Year's in the future that we hope y'all will come to.

Whatever y'all are doing for New Year's Eve, please be safe, and have a prosperous New Year. Cheers.

New Phone Numbers

This week seems to be the "Make it Official Week We Are Really Living in North Cakalaki." We will be registering our cars tomorrow and we now have new phone numbers.

Jim:919-793-4938
Abbie: 919-793-4939
Home: 919-803-2671

Handy Manny's a Handy Sham!

Y'know, I was talking to my brother, John, the other day, and he was telling me that he was missing my rant posts on the blog. Since I actually work for my paycheck nowadays, I'm not home as much as I wish I was and I don't get to watch the kid shows with Cooper and Bear as much as I once did. That, unfortunately, diminishes my ability to find new material to rant and rave about.

Well, HALLELUJAH! Just so happens that this weekend, I found a show to rant about. It is, of course, a Disney show. Imagine that. Disney. The media conglomerate that claims to be about and for families, yet, all they're concerned about is their bottom line. Think about how much influence Disney (the corporation) yields on our children. Television shows such as Disney Channel (duh), ABC, ABC Family, ESPN (you've gotta be kidding me) and all the ESPN channels. Movies (which are usually pretty good). Satellite radio such as XM (I think they have a couple of channels there). Theme Parks (which, if they weren't so derned expensive for a family of four, would probably have ALOT more patrons...not that they're hurting or anything), and Lord knows what else they've got their little tinkerbells into. Hell, they've even got a partnership with McDonalds! Watch their channels, and they're pushing that crap on our kids...that's a post and a rant for another day.

So, the show I'm going to beat down today is Handy Manny. This show's been on the air for some time now. I remember it being introduced back in August just after we moved down to NC.

According to Wikipedia, "Handy Manny is a TV animated children's program launched in 2006, part of the Playhouse Disney morning block of the Disney Channel. The show features the adventures of Manny Garcia, a bilingual Latino handyman, and his talking tools."

Yup, that about sums it up. Let's start off with the obvious political incorrectness of this show. Manny is "a bilingual Latino handyman". Isn't bilingual Latino redundant? Hmm. Anyways...what I'm focusing on is the word HANDYMAN. Are you telling me that Disney would only greenlight a new kids show with a Latino in the lead role if, and only if, he was a blue collar worker...a handyman? If you've ever seen this show, Manny can fix anything. I've seen him fix the town's stoplight, I've seen him fix a watch, the TV, the fridge...man, you name it, our little stereotypical Hispanic can fix it. That's realistic, isn't it? I mean, doesn't every Hispanic in our country know how to fix anything and work with his hands and the only job he can get is to be a handyman, I mean, since he can fix anything, right? What's next? Landscaping Luis? He comes with a talking lawn mower and weed wacker, and his nemesis is Mr. Thurston, the rich snooty fella down the street that always bitches and moans about those derned immigrants?

And let's look at Manny even more. Put aside the fact that Manny's a blue collar worker, he's got the typical hispanic accent (voiced by That 70's Show's Wilmer Valderrama...guess he couldn't get any sugar momma from Lindsay Lohan when she dumped him so he had to go find a real job). AND Manny easily trips into speaking Spanish, completely forgetting that all his customers are Americans and can't speak Spanish, so he has to translate what he just said. Dora the Explorer he ain't. I mean, c'mon, if you're going to work in this country, shouldn't you be able to communicate with your patrons without slipping into your native tongue? Or is Disney trying to desensitize our children now so they'll not insist that English remain our national language? Hmm...sounds like a conspiracy to me.

So, as you can see, Disney has yet again outdone themselves with their, ahem, childrens shows. I can't wait to see what's next. Oh wait, I think Johnny and the Sprites is coming soon...a show about a 30-something man that moves to the wilderness and ends up befriending a bunch of muppet fairies. First off, what's he doing by himself in the wilderness? Only disillusioned mathemticians sending out mailbombs live in the wilderness like that (Grizzly Adams the exception of course) and let's not talk about the derned fairies. Lord knows what he's doing with them when the cameras aren't rolling.

And one last thing about being a parent in general. Last night, for the first time, we shut off a movie because it may have been too innapropriate for the boys. We turned off Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King. Cooper was watching it intensely, and Abbie and I concluded that he may have bad dreams from all those derned orcs. Funny how it changes as a parent.

My Joy

I am beginning to think that Cooper was put on this earth just to make me laugh! Last night I told him it was night-night time and went about my way getting his stuff ready for bed. He was running around saying, “night-night” and I started looking for his water and little choo choo train. I looked in all the normal spots and finally just decided he was getting a car instead and filled up a different water bottle. I get into his room and he had already put his choo choo and water bottle into his crib! He was standing in front of the crib waiting on me with a book!!!

So today we packed up to go for the gym and went prepared with DVD’s and bananas. Have I mentioned Cooper has become a banana fiend? We have to hide them because if he sees them he will not stop asking for them! Anyway at home I give him a whole banana and he eats it just fine. Today I gave Diana a banana to give him and again I hear her scream, “Cooper!!!!” I look over and the kid is stuffing the ENTIRE banana in his mouth and smiling at her. He was messing with her! Oh man I am still laughing.

So after the gym I took the boys to the playground and Cooper immediately started running up the stairs and sliding down the slide. Sully was fussy and wanted to eat so I hesitantly went to the side and let Cooper keep up the routine. He got to the top looked at me with this sh*t eating grin and suddenly threw his choo choo train down the slide and started laughing (I almost had a heart attack!) then he went sliding after it over and over again! I couldn’t stop laughing- which is probably why he kept doing it.

So now as I am typing he’s jumping on the couch behind me wrapping his arms around my neck and going to one side or the other yelling, “booooo!” and then jumping off the couch landing on all fours and laughing with Sully then getting up again and doing it all over again.

I don’t know what I would do without the pure, innocent laughter and just utter joy Coop brings.

This Old House

It seems like it can't be real that this was our last Thanksgiving in Grandma's house. I realized as we were pulling away Thanksgiving would just never be the same for me. I regret that we didn't get one last group picture but I love that Chris took a video of "This Old House" where we all shared our favorite memories of the house.

Awwwwwww

Before daylight savings time I used to take the boys out for a walk in the afternoon. We would go check the mail and take a hike around the lake. This particular trip I heard Coop fuss a few times and I thought Bear was just grabbing him again but I did notice everyone we pass would look and say, "Awwww." I didn't really think much of it as of course they are just too cute. But when I got home and saw this picture I gave my own, "Awwwww!"

Not The Raincoat!

Not sure if the picture conveys just how much Cooper did not want to get in his raincoat!

Our "Backyard"

This was one of our outings in our "backyard". It was one of the first really cold days and I couldn't get Cooper to put on his jacket for anything. This is when he started his hoarding phase. Everything he saw he would collect and take with him. He wouldn't drop the chalk or the soccerball all day. I had to let him eat with the soccer ball on the table! Sully on the other hand was happy to be all bundled up and watch as we ran around.

December 06 Update

Oh where to start….. Life with the boys is never dull that much is for sure. After a lot of traveling to Northern Virginia and then to Charlotte for Thanksgiving we all succumbed to a nasty little bug. Sully started us off with a fever and congestion that was heartbreaking to watch. He doesn’t quite get that you can breathe through your mouth yet so he would try to breathe through his nose and then suddenly his arms would start flapping until he would figure out how to take a breath. That was three nights of torture but he pulled through that to let the rest of us get it. I had a 24 hour bug where I got knocked flat out for a day of fever and misery and a few days of a really sore throat with white lumps. Coop had a fever for a few days and his turned into a nice cough. Jim kept saying he was getting sick but he’s escaped any of the fever or misery. So everyone is on the mend now thankfully.

The boys have turned on me! Not really turned on me but they both decided to hit the phase of-if mommy isn’t holding me I’m going to start crying and screaming and they do it at the same time! I knew I was in for it when I went into the kitchen and Sully would start screaming at the top of his lungs raising his arms up for me to pick him up. Then as soon as you pick him up he is pushing away to get to something else that he wants in his mouth. The frustration is nothing works! He just wants to be everywhere at every moment. Fascinating to watch. I do remember though at 6 months Cooper went through the same thing so that made me feel better to remember it is just normal and will pass. I just got used to being able to go to the bathroom without having to bring the boys with me. Cooper literally chases me in there and Sully I have to bring or risk someone calling child protective services on me J I tell Jim it’s so hard to be so loved…sigh!

I decided to join a little gym right up the street that is run by two sweet women who welcome children. Monday was my first day. I was embarrassed that the boys were so fussy, they usually are happy to play with whoever is playing with them. I attributed it to them being a little tired (wishful thinking!) I packed them up to try it again Tuesday thinking it would be better….. ha ha ha ha ha! Sully was having a ball but Cooper decided that he wanted to have full access to the gym and didn’t want to stay in the kid area. Full tantrum mode. Throwing himself down with horrible sobs. I’m talking full belly hiccups and snot all over his face. At one point he had calmed down and I pulled out my bag of tricks some sweet potato chips and left the bag with him. A few minutes later I hear one of the women yelling, “Cooper!!!” I dropped my weights and went running over and he was literally shoving the potatoes in his mouth so that his cheeks were puffed out and he wasn’t swallowing. I still have no idea what that was about but the poor women were freaked out! So I gave her the bag to give him one at a time and she asked him to say please and he started screaming again. I forgot to tell her that when you try to get him to say please he starts screaming. (I’m choosing to not pick that battle right now but I forgot to mention that to her.) The ladies were angels though and weren’t upset by it at all. Wednesday I went in better prepared. I pulled a full tub of toys I was planning on rotating with the current toys and brought them to the gym. We were able to put up a barrier and I got through almost the entire workout! I swear Cooper is too funny. I give him a full bowl of the sweet potatoes at home or a whole banana and he will eat it regularly. But in front of Diane he shoves the ENTIRE thing in his mouth. Freaked her out again on Wednesday. I think he is being funny- I really do. Thursday I waited till Jim got home and I went alone. I don’t want them to revoke my membership!! Next week they will have a tv so I think that will keep them better occupied. Cooper did get his way though on the way out on Wednesday. He broke loose and ran to the step of the ONLY woman in there working out and tried jumping with her. She laughed and jumped with him thankfully.

Sully is up on his knees and crawling backwards! He gets where he wants by rolling or skootching around and last week he started moving backwards. I think it’s a frustrating time for him right now because he just wants to be where Cooper is and he wants to be there now! I’m going to pull out the video camera so I can get his first real crawl forward!

Important Announcement: There will be no more naked baby time in the Monihan house. Cooper jumped up today from getting his diaper changed and went running around the apartment. I tend to think it’s cute because he will go into the Downward Dog yoga position and I’ll start laughing and he starts laughing and it’s our little thing. I start saying, “downward dog downward dog!” and he giggles and I’ll finally get him in his diaper. So today he’s running around and I get Sully changed and then finally get Coop all changed and dressed. I’m making breakfast and I notice Sully on the other side of the room now but his hair is soaking wet. Cooper had peed on Sully’s play mat! Kind of like a dog marking his territory. I couldn’t believe it. Needless to say there will be no more naked baby time until they are potty trained!

Everybody keeps asking how they boys are doing together. I think that depends on the moment. Sully adores Coop. The love in his eyes is so sweet. I wish Cooper understood it. Unfortunately all Cooper sees is Sully wants his toys and there is a lot of frustration there. I now have certain things that are only Sully’s and only Coop’s. Everything else is fair game. Coop will go from pushing Sully away from him to reaching over to give him kisses or pat his head. His latest is to grab his nose and saying nose but Sully isn’t quite keen on that little game. Twice now when Sully has been crying I’ve seen Cooper grab a toy and go give it to him. Then on two other occasions I’ve caught Cooper well pretty much lying on top of Sully in what I’m thinking was meant to be a hug but Sully just didn’t know it. After I got him off of Sully he went to Sully’s face and cupped both his hands on his cheeks and gave him a kiss. Talk about melting my heart.

Cooper’s jibberish is starting to turn into real words. Today he said, “One Two Three!” He is into animal sounds right now. Meow, roaaaar and woof-woof he says in the car over and over. He loves to say “Choo Choo”. Sounds a bit more like, “shooo shooo” but he pumps his arm in the air as he says it. His favorite toy is his cho cho train. This thing goes everywhere with him. He eats with it, sleeps with it and takes a bath with it. One night I watched him wake up just to find it and he cuddled with it and sighed and went back to sleep. We’ll say, “Ok Coop let’s get ready for night-night.” He will literally start running around the apartment looking for the train and then run into his room saying, “night-night.” Now he’s got to have a lego on the back end of it for some reason. He is very particular about it. It’s really a fun stage because you just know he’s soaking it all in and learning so much. Yesterday I was telling a car, “Go, go, go!” Cooper started yelling, “Go, go, go!”

Well that’s the update for now.